GUSD Board Candidates:Meet the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education Candidates

To better acquaint all Crescenta Valley registered voters with the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education candidates for which they can vote in the April 3 election, the Crescenta Valley Sun presented all candidates with questions concerning the district's schools. Last week we introduced you to parent and businessman Todd Hunt. This week meet parent and businesswoman, Elizabeth Manasserian, incumbent Mary Boger and university professor Nayiri Nahabedian.

ELIZABETH

MANASSERIAN

Parent/Businesswoman

What do you think is the primary challenge for the district?

Declining enrollment which is a not only affecting Glendale but all the school districts statewide. It affects the funding for teacher salaries, programs, resources, maintenance and much more. I will be working with the community and the public in helping create awareness regarding lack of funding. We are all part of the solution. It is imperative that we all work together in voicing our concerns for our schools to our legislators. With my business experience and knowledge of financing and budgetary issues, I am capable of reaching out and making things happen.

What experience can you bring to the board?My experience in being a Council PTA member, an executive PTA board member of GUSD schools, including the president of Wilson PTA, my civic involvement for many years in Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Glendale Healthy kids as board member, advisory board member of Glendale Educational Foundation, and my business and professional involvement, has prepared me for the school board. The most important of all is my experience as a parent of the GUSD system and my relationship with the students, parents and teachers which has given me direct knowledge of the needs and state of our schools.

Do you have, or have you had, any children in the district?

My husband Greg and I have two sons who attended Glenoaks Elementary school, Wilson Middle School and are currently enrolled in Clark Magnet High School.

My dream is that my children, as married adults, will choose to live in Glendale and bring my grandchildren back to Glendale Schools.

GUSD offers many opportunities for intervention classes as well as schools like Daily and the new Advanced Path Academy for students who are having problems passing either the California High School Exit Exam or receiving enough credits to graduate.

How important are these opportunities for students?